Process for the preparation of D-(+)-biotin

ABSTRACT

D-(+)-Biotin can be prepared from optically active hydantoins of the formula I ##STR1## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , X and Y have the meaning given in patent claim 1, in a simple, stereospecific manner. 
     Furthermore bicyclic nitriles of the formula XI ##STR2## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , X and Y have the meaning given represent precious intermediate products and educts of a multitude of possibilities to synthesize optically active D-(+)-biotin.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/141,161,filed Jan. 6, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,402, which is a divisionalof application Ser. No. 07/039,342, filed Apr. 17, 1987, now U.S. Pat.No. 4,732,987.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is copending with application Ser. No. 039,341, filed4-7-87, now abandoned. The invention relates to a process for thepreparation of D-(+)-biotin from L-cysteine or L-cystine or L-serine viaan optically active (7R)-1H,3H-imidazol[1,5-c]azole as an intermediateproduct.

The invention was based on the object of providing a new process for thepreparation of optically active D-(+)-biotin which avoids the procedureof racemate resolution and hence the discarding or recycling of theundesired enantiomer.

Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, furtherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

Processes for the stereospecific synthesis of D-(+)-biotin from sugarsof suitable configuration are known. Thus, D-mannose is used as thestarting material in Tetrahedron Letters No. 32, pages 2765-2766 (1975),D-glucose is used as the starting material in Agric. Biol. Chem. No. 42,Page 465 (1978), and D-arabinose is used as the chiral starting materialin German Offenlegungsschrift 3,122,562 and German Offenlegungsschrift3,320,140.

All these processes are characterized, however, by a high number ofsynthesis steps with consequently a low overall yield. The intermediatestages, which usually cannot be crystallized because of their sugarnature, are frequently obtained only in unsatisfactory purity, andbecause of their polyfunctionality and the associated chemicalinstability, require observance of comparatively narrow reactionparameters. A number of sugars are also inaccessible from naturalsources, which results in a high price.

The use of L-cysteine, such as is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,172,U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,713, U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,345 and Journal of theAmerican Chemical Society No. 99, page 7020 (1977), indeed avoidshandling of unstable intermediate stages, but in contrast leads to onlyan unsatisfactory yield of optically active D-(+)-biotin by a total of18 reaction stages with removal of undesired isomers.

In another process, substituted3H,5H-imidazol[1,5-c]-tetrahydrothiazoles from which optically activebiotin is obtained after racemate resolution are described in Journal ofthe American Chemical Society No. 105, Page 5946 (1983) and in EuropeanPublished Application No. 0,094,776.

Since the comparatively high number of stages associated with in somecases moderate yields and the need for optical resolution also makesthese starting substances to be poorly suitable for the preparation ofD-(+)-biotin, there continued to be a need for a suitable process forsimple economic stereospecific preparation of D-(+)-biotin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention was based on the object of providing a new process for thepreparation of optically active D-(+)-biotin which avoids the procedureof racemate resolution and hence the discarding or recycling of theundesired enantiomer.

Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, furtherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

It has been found, surprisingly, that D-(+)-biotin can be prepared fromthe naturally occurring amino acids L-cysteine or L-cystine or L-serinevia an optically active (7R)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]azole of the formula Ias the intermediate product in a stereospecific manner withoutadditional racemate resolution.

These objects therefore are satisfied by provision of a process for thepreparation of D-(+)-biotin from L-cysteine or L-cystine or L-serine,characterized in that the synthesis is carried out via an intermediateproduct of the formula I ##STR3## wherein R¹ and R² are eachindependently of one another H, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl,cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or heteroaryl taken together are unsubstitutedor substituted alkylene or heteroalkalene.

R³ is H or a protective group which is suitable for a nitrogen atom and

X and Y independently of one another are each O or S.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

In this formula, X is preferably S and Y is preferably O, and inparticular X=S and Y=O at the same time. The radicals R¹ and R² arepreferably H, C₁ -C₄ -alkyl,, or phenyl or benzyl which is unsubstitutedor mono or polysubstituted by C₁ -C₃ -alkyl and/or alkoxy, and inparticular R¹ =H and R² =phenyl at the same time. The radical R³ ispreferably benzyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more,particularly preferably one or two, C₁ -C₄ -alkyl and/or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxygroups, in particular unsubstituted benzyl, and in addition also C₃ -C₅-alk-2-enyl or C₃ -C₆ -trialkylsilyl. In the case of polysubstitution,preferably disubstitution, of a phenyl ring, the substituents arepreferably identical, but can also be different. They are preferably inthe 4- and/or 2-position, but can also be in the 3-, 5- and/or6-position.

Generally, the alkyl portions have 1-C atoms, the aryl portions 6-10 Catoms, the cycloalkyl portions 5-C atoms and the heteroaryl groups areof 1-3 rings, 4-6 atoms total in each ring and 0, 1 or 2 hetero O, N orS atoms in each ring, there typically being 1-4 hetero atoms in total.Heteroalkylene refers to alkylene groups wherein 1-3 methylene groupsmay be replaced by oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen.

The invention accordingly relates in particular to a process for thepreparation of D-(+)-biotin from L-cysteine or L-cystine or L-serine viaan intermediate product of the formula in which at least one of theradicals mentioned has one of the above-mentioned preferred meanings.

The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation ofthe optically active hydantoins of the formula I, characterized in thatL-cysteine or LK-serine is reacted with an alkali metal cyanate orthiocyanate or alkaline earth metal cyanate or thiocyanate to givehydantoin of the formula II ##STR4## wherein X and Y have the meaninggiven, this product is reacted with a carbonyl compound of the formulaIII

    R.sup.1 --CO--R.sup.2                                      III

wherein R¹ and R² have the meaning given, water being split off, to givea bicyclic compound of the formula IV ##STR5## wherein R¹, R², X and Yhave the meaning given, and the secondary nitrogen atom thereof isprovided with a protective group R³ of the meaning given, or in thatL-cysteine or L-serine is reacted with a carbonyl compound of theformula III with the meaning given, water being split off, to give anazolidine V ##STR6## wherein R¹, R² and X have the meaning given, thisis reacted with a metal cyanate or thiocyanate to give a compound of theformula IV, and the subsequent procedure is as described above, or V isreacted with an organiisocyanate of isothiocyanate of the formula VI

    R.sup.3 --N═C═Y

wherein R³ and Y have the meaning given to produce a compound of theformula I, or in that L-cystine is reacted with an alkali metal cyanateor thiocyanate or alkaline earth metal cyanate or thiocyanate to give abis-hydantoin of the formula VII ##STR7## wherein Y is O or S, thisconverted into a hydantoin of the formula II with a reducing agent andthe product II is further reacted as described above, or its nitrogenatom in the 3-position is provided with a protective group R³ of themeaning given and the resulting bis-hydantoin of the formula VIII##STR8## wherein R³ and Y have the meaning given, after cleavage by areducing agent, is reacted with a carbonyl compound of the formula III,or in that L-cystine is reacted with an organoisocyanate or-isothiocyanate of the formula VI given to give a bis-hydantoin of theformula VIII and the subsequent procedure is as described above.

The present invention furthermore relates to a process for thepreparation of D-(+)-biotin from compounds of the formula I, by aprocedure in which

(a) I is reduced to an alcohol of the formula IX ##STR9## wherein R¹,R², R³, X and Y have the meaning given, this is converted into anactivated ester of the formula X ##STR10##

wherein R¹, R², R³, X and Y have the meaning given and the radical R⁴ isan activating ester group. This compound is reacted with an alkali metalcyanate or a cyanosilane or alkaline earth metal cyanide to give anitrile of the formula XI ##STR11## wherein R¹, R², R³, X and Y have themeaning given, this is reacted with a base or an acid to give an acidderivative of the formula XII ##STR12## wherein R¹, R², R³, X and Y havethe meaning given and R⁵ is H, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, this iscyclized water being split off, to give a lactone of the formula XIII##STR13## wherein R³, X and Y have the meaning given and R⁶ is H or R¹R² CH, this is converted by known processes into D-(+)-biotin, or by aprocedure in which

(b) XI is reacted with an organometallic compound to give an oxocompound of the formula XIV ##STR14## wherein R¹, R², R³, X and Y havethe meaning given and Z is OR⁵ or COOR⁵, this is split by treatment withan acid and/or a reducing agent to give an imidazolidine of the formulaXV ##STR15## wherein R³, R⁶, X, Y and Z have the meaning given, this iscyclized, under the action of a base, to give a biotin derivative of theformula XVI ##STR16## wherein R³, R⁶, X, Y and Z have the meaning given,and this is converted into D-(+) -biotin by known processes, or by aprocedure in which

(c) XI is reacted with a reducing agent to give an aldehyde of theformula XVII ##STR17## wherein R¹, R², R³, X and Y have the meaninggiven, this is condensed with an organophosphorus compound to give anunsaturated carboxylic acid of the formula XVIII ##STR18## wherein R¹,R², R³, X, Y and Z have the meaning given, this is converted by an acidand/or a reducing agent into a biotin derivative of the formula XIX##STR19## wherein R³, R⁶, X, Y and Z have the meaning given, and this isconverted into D-(+)-biotin by known processes, or by a procedure inwhich

(d) an oxo compound of formula XIV given above is converted, under theaction of an acid, to a biotin derivative of the formula XX ##STR20##wherein R³, X, Y and Z have the meaning given, and this is convertedinto D-(+)-biotin by known processes.

Furthermore the invention relates to compounds of the formula XI becausethese are useful intermediate products or starting materials opening ofpossibilities to synthesize optically active D-(+)-biotin. ##STR21##wherein R¹, R², X and Y have the meaning given and R³ is a protectivegroup which is suitable for a nitrogen atom. In this formula X ispreferably S and Y is preferably O. Particularly preferred is thecompound of the formula XIa, wherein R¹ is H, R² is phenyl and R³ isbenzyl. ##STR22##

The compounds of the formula I are prepared by methods which are knownper se, such as are described in the literature (for example in standardworks such as Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Methods ofOrganic Chemistry), Georg-Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart), and in particularunder reaction conditions such as are known and suitable for thereactions mentioned. It is also possible for variants which are knownper se and are not mentioned in more detail here to be utilized.

The starting substances of the formula II are known or can be preparedfrom L-cysteine or L-serine by known methods, such as are described, forexample, in Schoberl, Hamm, Chem. Ber. 81 [1948], 210 and Karbinos,Szabo, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 66 [1944], 649, by reacting the free aminoacids or acid addition salts thereof with an alkali metal cyanate orthiocyanate or alkaline earth metal cyanate or thiocyanate with oneanother in a suitable solvent, such as water, alcohols or mixturesthereof, preferably at elevated temperature, and cyclizing the resultingintermediate product in situ, under the action of an acid, for example amineral acid.

The reaction of the hydantoins of the formula II with carbonyl compoundsof the formula III to give the bicyclic compounds of the formula IV canbe carried out by the known customary methods for acetalizations, suchas are described, for example, in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der OrganischenChemie (Methods of Organic Chemistry), volume VI/3, page 199. Thereaction components are preferably reacted with the addition of adehydrating agent, such as, for example, an acid, such as sulfuric acid,phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid, an acidderivative, such as phosphorus pentoxide, phosphorus trichloride,phosphorus pentachloride or phosphorus oxychloride, a metal salt, suchas anhydrous calcium chloride, copper sulfate or iron(III) chloride, anacid ion exchanger or molecular sieves. The water of reaction formed canalso be removed by azeotropic distillation with a suitable solvent, suchas benzene, toluene, chloroform or methylene chloride. Finally, it isalso possible to use, instead of a free carbonyl compound of the formulaIII, the acetal thereof with a suitable alcohol, preferably a loweralcohol, for the preparation of the compounds of the formula IV. Thealcohol liberated during the reaction is advantageously removedcontinuously from the reaction mixture, for example by distillation oradsorption. Water of reaction formed by an excess of the acetal of theoxo compound III can also be removed.

One equivalent of carbonyl compound III or acetal thereof, which cansimultaneously serve as the solvent, is advantageously used for thereaction with the hydantoins of the formula II. However, it is moreadvantageous to add an additional inert solvent. Prefetred suitableinert solvents are hydrocarbons, such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane,benzene, toluene or xylene, and chlorinated hydrocarbons, such asmethylene chloride, chloroform or carbon tetrachloride.

The nitrogen atom in the bicyclic compounds of the formulae I, VIII, IX,X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, and XX is protected bya protecting group R³, wherein R³ is e.g. benzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl,3,4-dimethoxybenzyl, 4-methylbenzyl, allyl, methallyl, crotyl,methoxymethyl, trimethylsilyl, tert.-butyldimethylsilyl, ortert.-butyldiphenylsilyl. These protecting groups are introduced byknown processes such as are to be found, for example in Mac Omie,Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry, Plenum Press, New York, 1973 byreacting the corresponding reactive halogen compounds with bicycliccompounds of the formula IV leading to (7R)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]-azolesof the formula I. The reaction partners are preferably reacted in asuitable solvent with the addition of a basic reagent. Especiallysuitable solvents are, in particular, ethers, such as diethyl ether,di-n-butyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane or anisole, ketones, such asacetone, butanone or cyclohexanone, amides, such as dimethylformamide orphosphoric acid hexamethyltriamide, hydrocarbons, such as benzene,toluene or xylene, halogenohydrocarbons, such as carbon tetrachloride ortetrachloroethylene, and sulfoxides, such as dimethylsulfoxide orsulfolane.

A preferred reaction procedure is the reaction of a bicyclic compound ofthe formula IV with a reactive compound which carries the radical R³,preferably in a basic medium, bases which are of importance being, inparticular, alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide orpotassium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates or bicarbonates, such assodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate or potassiumbicarbonate, alkali metal acetates, such as sodium acetate or potassiumacetate, alkaline earth methal hydroxides, such as calcium hydroxide,alkali metal hydrides, such as sodium hydride, amides, such as sodiumamide or lithium diisopropylamide, alcoholates, such as sodiummethylate, sodium ethylate or lithium ethylate, or organic bases, suchas triethylamine, pyridine, lutidine, collidine, imidazole,4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-pyridine or quinoline.

The reaction temperature is usually between -50° C. and +250° C.,preferably between -20° C. and +80° C. At these temperatures, thereactions are as a rule ended after 15 minutes to 48 hours.

In another process for the preparation of the compounds of the formulaII, L-cysteine or L-serine is reacted with a carbonyl compound of theformula II to give an azolidine V. Compounds of the formula V andprocesses for their preparation are known, for example, from Schubert,J. Biol. Chem. 114 (1936), 341, Uskovic et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 97(1975), 5936, Lieberman et al., ibid. 70 (1948), 3094 and U.S. Pat. No.3,957,794 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,172. The reaction conditions describedfor the preparation of the compounds of the formula IV are alsosuitable.

Azolidines of the formula V can be converted into compounds of theformula IV by means of alkali metal cyanates or thiocyanates or alkalineearth metal cyanates or thiocyanates under the reaction conditionsalready described for the preparation of compounds of the formula II,and these can be further converted into the imidazo[1,5-c]azoles of theformula I as described.

However, it is more advantageous for the azoles of the formula V to bereacted with an organo-isocyanate or -isothiocyanate of the formula VIdirectly to give the imidazo[1,5-c]azoles of the formula I.Organo-isocyanates and -isothiocyanates of the formula Vi are known orcan be obtained by known methods, such as are described, for example, inHouben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Methods of OrganicChemistry), volumes VIII, page 75 and IX, page 773.

The reaction of hydantoins with phenyl isocyanate and methyl isocyanateis known from Lieberman, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 70 (1948), 3094 and Crabbet al., Tetrahedron 29 (1973), 3389. The reaction of the azoles of theformula V with the organo-isocyanates or -isothiocyanates of the formulaVI can also be carried out by these methods. The reaction components arepreferably reacted in a suitable-solvent, such as, for example, ethers,such as diethyl ether, di-n-butyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane oranisole, ketones, such as acetone, butanone or cyclohexanone, amides,such as dimethylformamide or phosphoric acid hexamethyltriamide,hydrocarbons, such such as benzene, toluene or xylene,halogenohydrocarbons, such as carbon tetrachloride ortetrachloroethylene, and sulfoxides, such as dimethylsulfoxide orsulfolane. Basic solvents, such as pyridine, lutidine, collidine,diethylamine or triethylamine, and mixtures of these bases with theabovementioned solvents are also suitable.

If appropriate, it may be advantageous for the carbamoyl orthiocarbamoyl compound primarily formed to be isolated and cyclized in aseparate reaction step, water being split off. Examples of suitabledehydrating agents are acids, such as sulfuric acid, hydrogen chlorideor toluene sulfonic acid, or bases, such as sodium hydroxide orpotassium hydroxide. The reaction here can be carried out in thepresence or absence of an inert solvent at temperatures between about 0°C. and 150° C., preferably between about 20° C. and 100° C.; examples ofpossible solvents are water and alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol,isopropanol or butanol.

In another process for the preparation of the compound of the formulaII, L-cystine is reacted with an alkali metal cyanate or thiocyanate oralkaline earth metal cyanate or thiocyanate to give a bis-hydantoin ofthe formula VII. The same methods which have already been described forthe preparation of the hydantoins of the formula II can be used forthis, the same or similar reaction conditions being applied.

Hydantoins of the formula II (X=S) can be obtained from thebis-hydatoins of the formula VII by treatment with a reducing agent, andthe imidazo[1,5-c]thiazoles of the formula I (X=S) can be prepared fromthese by the methods described above. Suitable reducing agents are to befound, for example, in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie(Methods of Organic Chemistry), volume 15/1, page 798. Sodium/liquidammonia, zinc/acid or phosphonium iodide are preferably suitable forreductive cleavage of the disulfide bond. The reduction of thebis-hydantoins of the formula VII is preferably carried out with oneequivalent, or in particular with an excess, of reducing agent in asuitable solvent adapted to the chemical nature of the reagent, such as,for example, water, liquid ammonia, alcohols, such as methanol, ethanolor isopropanol, acids, such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, formicacid or acetic acid, ethers, such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran ordioxane, or mixtures thereof, advantageously at temperatures betweenabout -50° C. and +150° C.

A particularly advantageous process for cleavage of the disulfide bondin the compounds of the formula VII comprises thiolysis thereof with asuitable mercaptan, such as, for example, thiophenol, butane-1,4-dithiolor 1,4-dithio-threitol, by a procedure analogous to that described byHase and Walter, Inst. J. Pept. Prot. Res. 5 (1973), 283. The reactioncomponents are advantageously reacted in a suitable solvent, such as,for example, aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solutions,chlorohydrocarbons or liquid ammonia, at temperatures between about -40°C. and +120° C.

The bis-hydantoins of the formula VII can furthermore be provided with aprotective group of the formula R³. The methods already described forthe preparation of the compounds of the formula I from the bicycliccompounds of the formula IV can be used for the preparation of theseprotected bis-hydantoins of the formula VIII, the same or similarreaction conditions being applied.

Another process for the preparation of the protected bis-hydantoins ofthe formula VIII comprises reaction of L-cystine with anorgano-isocyanate or -isothiocyanate of the formula VI mentioned by aprocess analogous to the preparation of compounds of the formula I fromazolidines of the formula V, the same or similar processes as havealready been described for the preparation of the compounds of theformula I being used.

For conversion of the compounds of the formula VIII into the(7aR)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazoles of the formula I (X=S), these aretreated with a reducing agent or a reagent which effects thiolysis in amanner corresponding to the preparation of the hydantoins of the formulaII from the disulfides of the formula VII, the same or similar processesand reaction conditions being used, and the products are then reactedwith a carbonyl compound of the formula III, in accordance with thepreparation of compounds of the formula V.

One process for the preparation of D-(+)-biotin from I comprisesreducing an oxo compound of the formula I to an alcohol of the formulaIX. Suitable processes are to be found, for example, in Houben-Weyl,Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Methods of Organic Chemistry), volume4/1c+4/1d.

The reduction can be carried out, for example, by catalytichydrogenation at temperatures between about 0° C. and about 200° C.under pressures between about 1 and 200 bar in an inert solvent, forexample an alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol or isopropanol, an ether,such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) or dioxane, an ester, such as ethylacetate, a carboxylic acid, such as acetic acid, or a hydrocarbon, suchas cyclohexane. Advantageously suitable catalysts are noble metals, suchas Pt or Pd, which can be used in the form of oxides (for example PtO₂or PdO) on a support (for example Pd on charcoal, calcium carbonate orstrontium carbonate), or in finely divided form.

Reductions with complex hydrides, such as, for example, boranes, such asdiborane, sodium boranate or lithium cyano-trihydro-borate, metalhydrides, such as sodium hydride or aluminium hydride, silicon hydrides,such as triethylsilane, tributyl-tin hydride and mixed hydrides, such aslithium alanate, sodium alanate or sodiumbis-(2-methoxy-ethoxy)-dihydridoaluminate, or potassium boranate orlithium boranate, are furthermore possible.

The reaction of the oxo compounds of the formula I with the reducingagents is advantageously carried out in a suitable solvent attemperatures between about -100° C. and +150°, in particular betweenabout 0° and 100°; examples of possible solvents are water, alcohols,such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or butanol, ethers, such astetrahydrofuran, dioxane, diethyl ether or ethylene glycol dimethylether, and hydrocarbons, such as pentane, cyclohexane, benzene andtoluene, depending on the chemical nature of the reducing agent.

For activation of the hydroxyl group in the alcohols of the formula IX,these are reacted with a reactive compound R⁴ -Q carrying the radicalR⁴, wherein R⁴ is, for example, alkanoyl, such as acetyl, aroyl, such asbenzoyl or 4-nitrobenzoyl, alkylsulfonyl, such as methanesulfonyl,ethanesulfonyl or trifluoromethanesulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, such asphenylsulfonyl, or aralkylsulfonyl, such as benzylsulfonyl. R⁴ isfurthermore a radical azole-M, wherein azole is a nitrogen-containing,unsubstituted or substituted and/or fused, five-membered ring, such as,for example, imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, 1,2,3-triazole, benzotriazole,benzimidazole, pyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole or indazole, and M is CO,CS, SO, SO₂ or S. Preferably, R⁴ is acetyl, imidazole-1-ylcarbonyl,imidazole-1-ylsulfinyl imidazole-1-ylsulfonyl. Q is halogen, alkoxy,alkanoyloxy or a further azole radical. Suitable groups for R⁴ and Q arethose corresponding groups defined above for R¹ -R².

Accordingly, the reaction of acetyl chloride, acetic anhydride,1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole, 1,1'-sulfinyldiimidazole and1,1'-sulfonyldiimidazole with alcohols of the formula IX is particularlysuitable for the preparation of active esters of the formula X.

A preferred reaction procedure is the reaction of an alcohol of theformula IX with a reactive compound which carries the radical R⁴,preferably in a basic medium particularly suitable bases being organicbases, such as triethylamine, pyridine, lutidine, collidine orqunioline. The reaction temperature is usually between -50° C. and +150°C., preferably between -20° C. and +80° C. At these temperatures, thereactions are as a rule ended after 15 minutes to 48 hours.

For conversion into nitriles of the formula XI, the activated esters ofthe formula X can be reacted with a cyanide, advantageously with a metalcyanide, such as sodium cyanide, potassium cyanide or copper cyanide ora cyanosilane, such as, for example, trimethylsilyl cyanide,β-trimethylsilylpropionitrile or diethylaluminium cyanide, for example,in an inert solvent, such as methyl chloride, toluene, pyridine,dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone orhexamethylphosphoric acid triamide, at temperatures between -50° C. and200° C.

A preferred process for the preparation of nitriles of the formula XIfrom activated esters of the formula X wherein R⁴ is a radical azole-Mwith the abovementioned meaning comprises additional activation of theesters of the formula X by N-alkylation thereof. Examples of alkylatingagents which are suitable for this are alkyl, alkenyl and aryl iodides,bromides, chlorides, sulfates and sulfonates. Reaction thereof with theactivated esters of the formula X is advantageously carried out in asuitable solvent, such as, for example, ethers, such as diethyl ether,tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, or ketones, such as acetone, diethyl ketoneor methyl isobutyl ketone; however, the reaction can also be carried outwithout the addition of a solvent.

A further preferred process for the preparation of nitriles of theformula XI from esters of the formula X comprises the reaction of thelatter with a cyanosilane according to methods such as are to be found,for example, in M. T. Reetz et al., Tetrahedron 39 (1983) 961; T. Hiyamaet al., Synthesis 1986 689 or Houben-Weyl, Volume E5, pages 1389 ff(1985).

Particularly suitable compounds for this reaction are those compounds ofthe formula X wherein R⁴ is alkanoyl or aroyl, especialy alkanoyl, suchas acetyl. Trimethylsilyl cyanide proves to be a particularly suitablecyanation reagent. Advantageously, the reactants are reacted with oneanother in an inert solvent, such as, for example, methylene chloride ortoluene, at temperatures of -50° C. to 150° C., if appropriate withaddition of a catalyst such as, for example, tin(IV) chloride,titanium(IV) chloride, tin(IV) triflate or zinc bromide.

The esters of the formula X can be isolated and be reacted with acyanide in the abovementioned manner to give the nitriles of the formulaXI, but they can also be formed in situ and reacted with a cyanidewithout being isolated.

Nitriles of the formula XI can be reacted with bases or acids to giveacids of the formula XII in which R⁵ is H, particularly suitable basesbeing alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide or potassiumhydroxide, alkali metal carbonates or bicarbonates, such as sodiumcarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate or potassiumbicarbonate, or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, such as calciumhydroxide. Examples of suitable acids are hydrochloric acid, sulfuricacid or hydrobromic acid. The reaction temperature is usually between-20° C. and +200° C., preferably between 0° C. and +100° C. At thesetemperatures, the reactions are as a rule ended after between 30 minutesand 48 hours.

Nitriles of the formula XI can be reacted with alcohols R⁵ -OH underacid catalysis to give acid derivatives of the formula XII in which R⁵is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl. Suitable acids are, in particular,hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid and boron trifluoride, for example inthe form of its diethyl ether adduct. The reaction is advantageouslycarried out in an excess of the alchol R⁵ -OH as the solvent, attemperatures between 0° C. and +150° C.

The known lactones of the formula XIII can be obtained from the acidderivatives of the formula XII by liberating the hydroxymethyl (X=O) ormercaptomethyl (X=S) group again from the former and cyclizing theintermediate products thus obtained of the formula XIIa, ##STR23##wherein X, Y, R³ and R⁵ have the abovementiond meaning, R⁶ is H or CHR¹R² and R⁷ is H, alkanoyl or aroyl, water (R⁵ =H) or alcohol (R⁵ ≠H)being split off.

Acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, for example, aresuitable for cleavage of the bicyclic compounds of the formula XII andlead to the hydantoins of the formula XIIa wherein R⁶ =R⁷ =H,advantageously in a solvent, for example water or alcohols.

Cleavage reagents which can furthermore be used are heavy metal salts,such as silver nitrate, mercury(II) chloride or mercury(II) acetate, andthe metal mercaptides intermediately formed are subsequently decomposedwith hydrogen sulfide. Examples of suitable solvents for this cleavagereaction are, after the alcohols, such as methanol or ethanol, amides,such as dimethylformamide, or ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran.

Acid derivatives of the formula XII in which X is S can be convertedwith reducing agents into intermediate products of the formula XIIawherein R⁶ is CHR¹ R² and X is SH. Examples of suitable reducing agentsare metals, such as zinc. The cleavage of the acid derivatives byreduction with metals is preferably carried out in an acid medium.Examples of suitable acids for this are mineral acids, such ashydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, or organic acids, such as formicacid or acetic acid. These acids are advantageously used as solvents oras a mixture with other solvents, such as, for example, alcohols. Thereaction temperature is usually between 0° C. and 200° C., preferablybetween 20° C. and 150° C. At these temperatures, the reactions are as arule ended after between 15 minutes and 24 hours.

Under the conditions described above, compounds of the formula XIIa,wherein R⁷ is H, are usually obtained. If, however, the reduction iscarried out in an anhydrous medium with addition of an acylating agent,such as, for example, an acid halide or acid anhydride, compounds of theformula XIIa, in which R⁷ is alkanoyl or aroyl, are obtained. Suchcompounds are preferentially suitable for conversion to lactones of theformula XIII.

The resulting intermediate products of the formula XIIa can be isolated;however, they are advantageously further reacted in situ to give theknown lactones of the formula XIII. The latter lactones are frequentlyalready formed to a high degree or already completely formed duringcleavage of the bicyclic compounds of the formula XII. To form thelactones of the formula XIII from the intermediate products of theformula XIIa, these are treated with an agent which effects the removalof water or alcohol. Examples of suitable agents which are available forthis are alkali metal salts, such a potassium acetate or sodium acetate,acids, such as methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, phosphoricacid, sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid, anhydrides, such as aceticanhydride or trifluoroacetic anhydride, or other dehydrating reagents,such as, for example, aluminium oxide, potassium hydroxide, cyanic acidor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The use of an excess of the abovementionedlactonizing agent frequently proves to be advantageous. Suitablereaction conditions for the lactonization can be found, for example, inHouben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Methods of OrganicChemistry), volume E5.

Compounds of the formula XIIa, wherein R⁷ is alkanoyl or aroyl, canadvantageously be converted to lactones of the formula XIII, bysubjecting their corresponding alkali metal salts, especially theirsodium or potassium salts (XIIa, R⁵ =Na or K) to a thermalepimerization/cyclization. The reaction of the alkali metal salts ofcarboxylic acids of the formula XII, which salts may have been preparedin situ, is advantageously carried out in an inert solvent such asdimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide orN-methylpyrrolidone, at temperatures of 30°-200° C., especially at50°-150° C. The reaction times are from 30 minutes to 12 hours.

The conversion of the lactones of the formula XIII into D-(+)-biotin isknown, for example, from German Pat. No. 2,058,234 and German Pat. No.2,331,244.

In another process for the preparation of D-(+)-biotin from(7aR)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]azoles of the formula I, nitriles of theformula XI are reacted with an organometallic compound to give oxocompounds of the formula XIV. Organometallic compounds which aresuitable for this are, for example, those of magnesium (Blaise process),of zinc (Reformatzky process), of lithium or of aluminium. The reactionconditions for the reaction of the organometallic compounds depend onthe nature and chemical reactivity of the functional groups present andcan be chosen analogously to known processes, such as are described, forexample, in Houben-Weyl, Methodern der Organischen Chemie (Methods ofOrganic Chemistry), volume VII/2a, page 603.

The same abovementioned methods for the preparation of the hydantoins ofthe formula XIIa from the acid derivatives XII are suitable forconversion of the bicyclic oxo compounds of the formula XIV into thehydantoins of the formula XV by means of an acid or a reducing agent. Oncleavage by means of acids, imidazolidines of the formula XV in wich R⁶is H are obtained, and on cleavage by a reducing agent, R⁶ in formula XVis R¹ R² CH. The reaction conditions correspond to the abovementionedmethods.

Compounds of the formula XV can be cyclized under basic conditions togive the hemiacetals of the formula XVI. Examples of bases which aresuitable for this are alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxideor potassium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates, such as sodiumbicarbonate, potassium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate, alkali metalacetates, such as sodium acetate or potassium acetate, alkaline earthmetal hydroxides and oxides, such as calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide oraluminium oxide, or organic bases, such as triethylamine, pyridine,lutidine, periperidine, morpholine, piperazine, collidine or quinoline.Basic ion exchangers are furthermore also suitable for cyclization ofcompounds of the formula XV. The reaction is advantageously carried outin an inert solvent. Suitable preferred inert solvents are hydrocarbons,such as cyclohexane, benzene and toluene, ethers, such astetrahydrofuran and dioxane, amides, such as dimethylformamide andhexamethylphosphoric acid triamide, sulfoxides, such asdimethylsulfoxide, alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, esters, suchas ethyl acetate, or lower carboxylic acids, such as formic acid oracetic acid. An excess of organic base is also suitable as the solvent,and in combination with a lower carboxylic acid is a particularlypreferred cyclization medium. The reaction temperatures areadvantageously between about 0° and 200°, preferably between 20° and150°, and the reaction times are between 1 and 48 hours.

Hemiacetals of the formula XVI are known and can be converted intoD-(+)-biotin by known methods, such as are to be found, for example, inGerman Pat. No. 2,058,234.

In another process for the preparation of D-(+)-biotin from(7aR)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]azoles of the formula I, nitriles of theformula XI are reacted with a reducing agent to give an aldehyde of theformula XVII. Processes which are suitable for this are to be found, forexample, in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Methods ofOrganic Chemistry), volumes 7/1, page 299 and E3, page 476. Examples ofreducing agents which can be used are tin(II) chloride with hydrogenchloride in ethereal solution or hydrogen under Raney nickel catalysisin an acid medium. Good results can also be achieved by reaction of thenitriles of the formula XI with 2-mercaptoethanol to give thecorresponding 2-substituted 1,3-benzooxathiazoles and reduction thereofby means of sodium borohydride. The reduction of the nitriles of theformula XI is particularly advantageously carried out with complexhydrides, such as sodium hydro-triethoxyaluminate, lithiumhydrotriethoxyalanate or, particularly preferably, withdiisobutylaluminium hydride.

The reaction of the complex hydrides with the nitriles of the formula XIis advantageously caarried out in an inert solvent. Preferred suitableinert solvents are hydrocabons, such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane,benzene or toluene, or ethers, such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran,dioxane or ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and mixtures of thesesolvents with one another. The reaction temperatures are advantageouslybetween about -120° C. and +150° C., preferably between -80° C. and+100° C., and the reaction times are between about 30 minutes and 24hours.

The unsaturated compounds of the formula XVIII can be prepared from thealdehydes of the formula XVII with suitable phosphorus-organyls in thepresence of a base. Thus, for example, phosphoranes, after conversioninto the corresponding ylides by the processes described in Houben-Weyl,Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Methods of Organic Chemistry), volume5/16, page 383, phosphonates, after formation of the anion analogouslyto the processes described, for example, in Organic Reactions, volume25, John Wiley, New York, 1978, Chapter 2, or phosphine oxides can beused for the olefination of aldehydes of the formula XVII in the mannerdescribed, for example, in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie(Methods of Organic Chemistry), volume XII/1, page 167. Suitable basesfor preparation of a reactive phosphorylide, phosphonate or phosphineoxide anion, depending on the ease of deprotoation of thephosphorus-organyl employed, are, for example, alkali metal hydroxides,such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, alkali metalcarbonates, such as sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate,alcoholates, such as sodium methylate, sodium ethylate, lithium ethylateor potassium tert.-butanolate, alkali metal amides, such as potassiumamide or sodium amide, alkali metal-organyls, such as methyllithium,butyllithium or phenyllithium, or other organic bases, such as lithiumdiisopropylamide or sodium methylsulfinylmethylide. The reaction isadvantageously carried out in an inert solvent. Preferred suitable inertsolvents are ethers, such as diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethylether, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, and amides, such asdimethylformamide, hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide, dimethylacetamideor N-methylpyrrolidone, and furthermore sulfoxides, such asdimethylsulfoxide or sulfolane, as well as hydrocarbons, such aspentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene or toluene. The reactiontemperatures are advantageously between about -10° C. and about +150°C., preferably between about +20° C. and +100° C., depending on thereactivity of the phosphorus-organyl employed, and the reaction timesare between 1 and 48 hours.

The unsaturated bicyclic compounds of the formula XVIII are reacted withacids and/or reducing agents by processes which are analogous to thosedescribed above for cleavage of acid derivatives of the formula XII.Hydroxy-(X=O) or mercapto-(X=S)-methylhydantoins formed as intermediateproducts undergo cyclization under the cleavage conditions to give thebiotin derivatives of the formula XIX, R⁶ being H in the case of acidcleavage; in the case of cleavage by a reducing agent, R⁶ is R¹ R² CH.The reaction conditions correspond to the methods described above.

Finally, oxo compounds of the formula XIV can be converted, by processesdescribed above, which are analogous to the cleavage of acid derivativesof the formula XII, to give biotin derivatives of the formula XX, whereR³, X, Y and Z have the meaning given.

Biotin derivatives of the formula XIX are known and can be converted inD-(+)-biotin by known methods, such as are disclosed, for example, inGerman Pat. No. 2,058,234, European Pat. No. 0,036,030 and European Pat.No. 0,084,377.

The process according to the invention thus enables optically activeD-(+)-biotin to be prepared in a simple stereospecific manner in highyields from readily accessible cheap starting substances in a fewsynthesis steps, some of which can be carried out in a one-pot process,and thus represents a substantial advance in the field of biotinsynthesis.

All starting material are known or readily preparable from knownstarting materials using fully conventional methods.

The full disclosure of any references and applications mentioned aboveand below are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the artcan, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention toits fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments are,therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative ofthe remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.

In the preceding text and the following examples, all temperatures areset forth uncorrected in degrees Celsius and all parts and percentagesar by weight; unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1

6.53 g (0.3 mol) of lithium borohydride are added in portions to asolution of 97.32 g (0.3 mol) of(7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-1H,3H-imidazol[1,5-c]thiazol-5,7(6H,7aH)-dionein

800 ml of tetrahydrofuran, kept under nitrogen, at +5° C. and themixture is then stirred at room temperature for 3 hours.

It is then carefully decomposed with 400 ml of ice-water, most of thetetrahydrofuran is distilled off and the product is extracted with atotal of 800 ml of ethyl acetate.

The organic phases are combined, washed twice with 150 ml of water eachtime, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure.

90.8 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onewith a melting point of 151°-153° C. are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-875°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 2

A solution of 43.35 g (1.1 mole) of 96% sodium borohydride in 300 ml ofwater is allowed to run, at room temperature, into a solution of 324.4 g(1 mol) of(7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-5,7(6H,7aH)-dionein 1200 ml of tetrahydrofuran and the reaction mixture is stirred for 12hours at 50° C. It is then cooled to 20° C., the aqueous phase isseparated off and the organic solution is concentrated under reducedpressure.

The residue is suspended in 1000 ml of 2-propanol, 100 ml of solvent aredistilled off and the mixture is left to crystallize at 0° C.

303.5 g(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-5(6H)-one,with a melting point of 174°-175° C., are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-1026°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 3

A solution of 43.35 g (1.1 mol) of 96% sodium borohydride in 300 ml ofwater is allowed to run into a solution of 324.4 g (1 mol) of(7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-5,7(6H,7aH)-dionein 1200 ml of tetrahydrofuran at room temperature and the reactionmixture is stirred for 7 hours at 50° C. It is then cooled to 20° C.,the aqueous phase is separated off and the organic solution isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is suspended in 1000 ml of 2-propanol, 100 ml of solvent aredistilled off and the residue is left to crystallize at 0° C.

298.7 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-5(6H)-one,with a melting point of 164°-166° C., are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-964°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 4

50.27 g (0.31 mol) of 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole are introduced at +10° C.into a suspension of 97.92 g (0.3 mol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 300 ml of acetonitrile, kept under nitrogen, in the course of 30minutes. The resulting clear solution is stirred at room temperature for30 minutes and concentrated at the residue is partitioned between 300 mlof water and 500 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed threetimes with 100 ml of water each time, dried over sodium sulfate andconcentrated under reduced pressure.

104.6 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-(imidazol-1-ylcarbonyloxy)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-750°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 5

A solution of 9.79 g (30 mmol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 100 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise to a suspension of 0.96 g(32 mmol) of 80% pure sodium hydride in 20 ml of tetrahydrofuran at roomtemperature under nitrogen and the solution formed is stirred at roomtemperature for 45 minutes. A solution of 6.34 g (32 mmol) of1,1-sulfonyldiimidazole in 80 ml of tetrahydrofuran is then addeddropwise at room temperature in the course of 10 minutes and the mixtureis stirred for a further 20 minutes.

The mixture is concentrated, 200 ml of ice-water are added to theresidue and the mixture is extracted three times with 100 ml of diethylether each time. The combined organic phases are dried over sodiumsulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure.

Chromatography of the residue on silica gel (ethyl acetate) gives 8.1 gof(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-(imidazol-1-ylsulfonyloxy)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneas an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-710°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 6

33.69 g (0.33 mol) of acetic anhydride are added dropwise, over 10minutes, to a solution of 97.92 g (0.3 mol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 900 ml of pyridine and the solution is stirred for 12 hours at roomtemperature. It is then concentrated under reduced pressure, the residueis dissolved in 600 ml of toluene, the solution is washed three timeswith 100 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid at a time, and the solvent isdistilled off.

110.1 g(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-acetoxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-786°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 7

354.85 g (2.5 mol) of iodomethane are added dropwise to a solution of210.24 g (0.5 mol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-(imidazol-1-ylcarbonyloxy)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 1500 ml of acetone in the course of 10 minutes and the solution isstirred at room temperature for 3 hours.

It is then concentrated, the residue is dissolved in 750 ml ofdimethylformamide, 98.02 g (2 mol) of sodium cyanide are added and themixture is stirred at 75° C. for one hour.

The solution is then stirred into 5000 ml of ice-water and the mixtureis extracted five times with 500 ml of toluene each time. The combinedorganic phases are washed with water and saturated sodium chloridesolution, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reducedpressure.

150.7 g of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil, which is chromatographed on silica gel withpetroleum ether/tert.-butyl methyl ether (1:1, volume/volume).

7S-Nitrile: Yield 35 g; melting point: 102°-103° C. [α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-795°,c=1 (methanol).

7R-Nitrile: Yield 107 g: melting point: 109°-110° C. [α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-840°,c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 8

45.65 g (0.1 mol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-(imidazol-1-sulfonyloxy)-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare taken in 350 Pml of acetone. 60.49 g (0.5 mol) of allyl bromide areadded dropwise to this solution in the course of 5 minutes and thereaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes.

The mixture is then concentrated, the residue is dissolved in 100 ml of1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 19.6 g (0.4 mol) of sodium cyanide are added tothe solution and the mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 45 minutes.

The reaction mixture is then stirred into 1000 ml of icewater andextracted three times with 200 ml of toluene each time. The combinedorganic phases are washed with water and saturated sodium chloridesolution, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reducedpressure. 16.8 g of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil, which is chromatographed on silica gel withpetroleum ether/tert.-butyl methyl ether (1:1, volume/volume).

7S-Nitrile: yield 3.8 g; melting point: 103° C. [α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-790°.

7R-Nitrile: yield 11.8 g; melting point: 109°-110° C. [α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-845°c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 9

104.17 g (1.05 mol) of trimethylsilyl cyanide are run at -20° C. into asolution, kept under nitrogen, of 368.45 g (1 mol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,71-dihydro-7-acetoxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 3500 ml of methylene chloride, 189.71 g (1 mol) of titanium(IV)chloride are then added over 15 minutes, with vigorous stirring, themixture is stirred for 45 minutes at -20° C.

1000 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid are added cautiously to the red reactionmixture at 0° C. and the batch is stirred at room temperature untilcompletely colourless.

The organic phase is then separated off, washed twice with 1000 ml ofwater at a time, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated. 321.3 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5-(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-823°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 10

31.64 g (0.4 mol) of pyridine and 33.69 g (0.33 mol) of acetic anhydrideare added to a suspension of 97.92 g (0.3 mol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 1200 ml of toluene and the mixture is stirred for 10 hours at 50° C.

The solution is cooled to room temperature and washed three times with200 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid at a time, and 200 ml of toluene aredistilled off.

When the residue has cooled to -20° C., 30.76 g (0.31 mol) oftrimethylsilyl cyanide are added under nitrogen, and 56.91 g (0.3 mol)of titanium(IV) chloride are introduced dropwise over 5 minutes.

350 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid are cautiously added dropwise, at 0° C.,to the brown reaction mixture, which is stirred at room temperatureuntil completely colourless.

The organic phase is separated off, washed twice with 300 ml of water ata time and concentrated.

89.6 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-817°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 11

47.46 g (0.6 mol) of pyridine and 33.69 g (0.33 mol) of acetic anhydrideare added to a solution of 97.92 g (0.3 mol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 960 ml of methylene chloride and the mixture is boiled under refluxfor 8 hours.

It is then cooled to room temperature, washed three times with 300 ml of1N hydrochloric acid at a time and dried over sodium sulphate.

The slution is then cooled to -20° C., 30.76 g (0.31 mol) oftrimethylsilyl cyanide are run in under nitrogen and 78.15 g (0.3 mol)of tin(IV) chloride are introduced dropwise over 5 minutes.

350 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid are then added cautiously to the reactionmixture at 0° C. and the mixture is stirred at room temperature untilcompletely colourless.

The organic phase is separated off, washed twice with 300 ml of water ata time and dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated.

86.3 g of (7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-826°, c=1 (methanol).

Analogously are obtained:

(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-(4-methoxybenzyl)-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-(4-chlorbenzyl)-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6(4-nitrobenzyl)-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS, 7aR)-3-phenyl-6-(trimethylsilyl)-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-(2-propenyl)-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS, 7aR)-3-propyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS,7aR)-3,3-dimethyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS,7aR)-3-ethyl-3-methyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS, 7aR)-3-cyclohexyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS,7aR)-3,3-tetramethylenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

(7RS,7aR)-3,3-pentamethylenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]thiazo-5(6H)-one

EXAMPLE 12

A solution of 7.92 g (0.12 mol) of 85% potassium hydroxide in 20 ml ofwater is added to a solution of 13.42 g (40 mmol) of a mixture of(7R,7aR)-and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 75 ml of n-butanol and the mixture is stirred at 100° C. for 90minutes.

Most of the solvent is then distilled off, 200 ml of water are added andthe mixture is extracted three times with 100 ml of methylene chlorideeach time.

Concentrated hydrochloric acid is added dropwise to the aqueous phase at0° C. until pH 1 is reached and the product is filtered off with suctionand rinsed in portions with a total of 100 ml of water.

13.5 g of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylicacid with a melting point of 184°-185° C. are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-960°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 13

134.17 g (0.4 mol) of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare suspended in 1000 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid and themixture is stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours. It is then cooled to 0° C.,subsequently stirred for 3 hours and filtered with suction and theproduct is washed in portions with 500 ml of water.

129.8 g of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylicacid with a melting point of 183°-184° C. are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-950°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 14

13.42 g (40 mmol) of(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneand 100 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid are reacted at 80° for 3hours by the procedure described in Example 7. After the working-updescribed, (7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylic acid is obtained; melting point:220°-225° C.

EXAMPLE 15

134.17 g (0.4 mol) of a mixture of (7R, 7aR)-and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid by the procedure described inExample 7. 127.2 g of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-5-(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylicacid of no definite melting point are obtained.

EXAMPLE 16

32.64 g (0.1 mol) of (7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare added to a solution of 20.04 g of (0.11 mol) of1,1-sulfinyldiimidazole (W. Waiter, M. Radke; Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1979,1756-67) in 350 ml of methylene chloride at room temperature undernitrogen.

The clear solution is stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes, washedtwice with 150 ml of water each time, dried over sodium sulfate andfiltered.

37.84 g (0.3 mol) of dimethyl sulfate are added dropwise to the filtrateat 10° C. (10 minutes) and the solution is stirred at 20° C. for 4hours.

Excess dimethyl sulfate is then destroyed by addition of triethylamineat 20° C. and the mixture is concentrated under reduced pressure.

The oily residue is dissolved in 100 ml of dimethylformamide, 14.7 g(0.3 mol) of sodium cyanide are introduced and the reaction mixture isstirred at 85° C. for 60 minutes.

The reaction mixture is then stirred into 500 ml of ice-water andextracted three times with 150 ml of ethyl acetate each time. Thecombined organic phases are washed with water and saturated sodiumchloride solution and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultingnitrile is hydrolyzed in a manner analogous to that described in Example6, using 200 ml of n-butanol, 19.8 g (0.3 mol) of 85% potassiumhydroxide and 40 ml of water.

22.68 g of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylicacid are obtained, melting point: 180°-181° C., [α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-945°, c=1,methanol.

EXAMPLE 17

7.32 g (112 mmol) of zinc powder are added in portions to a solution of9.92 g (28 mmol) of (7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]-thiazole-7-carboxylicacid in 150 ml of anhydrous acetic acid at 80° C., the mixture isstirred at 80° C. for a further 4 hours and filtered and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is dissolved in 500 ml of ethyl acetate and the solution iswashed with 200 ml of water and 100 ml of saturated sodium chloridesolution, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reducedpressure. The product crystallizes on trituration with diethyl ether.

9.39 g of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-mercaptomethylimidazolidine-4-carboxylicacid with a melting point of 167°-169° C. are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =+83°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 18

7.32 g (112 mmol) of zinc powder are added, a little at a time, to asolution of 9.92 g (28 mmol) of (7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-5-(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylicacid in a mixture of 100 ml of anyhydrous acetic acid and 4.29 g (42mmol) of acetic anhydride at 90° C., and the mixture is then stirred for2 hours at 110° C.

It is then cooled to 60° C., filtered and concentrated under reducedpressure.

The residue is suspended in 120 ml of water, the suspension is stirredfor 60 minutes at room temperature and is filtered, and the residue isdried in vacuo.

9.5 g of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazoline-4-carboxylicacid, with a melting point of 135°-140° C., are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =+173°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 19

35.64 g (0.1 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-mercaptomethyl-imidazoline-4-carboxylicacid are dissolved in 300 ml of dimethylacetamide, 13.61 g (0.1 mol) ofsodium acetate trihydrate are introduced and the mixture is heated at150° C. for 40 minutes.

It is then cooled to room temperature, stirred into 900 ml of water andextracted four times with 100 ml of toluene each time. The combinedorganic phases are washed three times with 50 ml of water each time andonce with 50 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution and concentratedunder reduced pressure. The residue is recrystallized from ethylacetate.

28.76 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-2(3H),4-dionewith a melting point of 118°-119° C. are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+90.8°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 20

39.85 g (0.1 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazoline-4-carboxylicacid are dissolved in 100 ml of dimethylformamide, 11.42 g (0.1 mol) ofpotassium thioacetate are introduced and the reaction mixture is heatedfor 2 hours at 130° C.

It is then cooled to room temperature and stirred into 800 ml of water,and the mixture is extracted four times with 100 ml of toluene at atime. The combined organic phases are washed three times with 50 ml ofwater at a time and once with saturated sodium chloride solution, andare evaporated under reduced pressure.

The residue is recrystallized from 2-propanol, giving 25.4 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-2(3H),4-dione,with a melting point of 118° C.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+90.7°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 21

A solution of 39.85 g (0.1 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazoline-4-carboxylicacid in 300 ml of 1N sodium hydroxide solution is stirred for 60 minutesat room temperature, then acidified to pH 4 with concentratedhydrochloric acid and extracted three times with 100 ml of methylenechloride at a time. The combined organic phases are dried over sodiumsulphate and concentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is dissolved in 100 ml of N-methylpyrrolidone, 11.42 g (0.1mol) of potassium thioacetate are introduced and the reaction mixture isheated for 90 minutes at 130° C.

It is then cooled to room temperature and stirred into 800 ml of water,and the mixture is extracted four times with 100 ml of toluene at atime. The combined organic phases are washed three times with 50 ml ofwater at a time and once with saturated sodium chloride solution, andare evaporated under reduced pressure.

The residue is recrystallized from 2-propanol, giving 22.6 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-2(3H), 4-dione,with a melting point of 119°-120° C.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+91.4°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 22

100 ml of a one-molar solution of potassium hydroxide in methanol areadded to a solution of 39.85 g (0.1 mol) of(4S,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-acetylmercaptomethylimidazolin-4-carboxylicacid in 200 ml of methanol and the mixture is concentrated under reducedpressure.

The oily residue is dissolved in 100 ml of dimethylformamide and thesolution is heated for 3 hours at 130° C.

It is then cooled to room temperature and stirred into 800 ml of water,and the mixture is extracted four times with 100 ml of toluene at atime. The combined organic phases are washed three times with 50 ml ofwater at a time and once with saturated sodium chloride solution, andare concentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is recrystallized from 2-propanol, giving 27.7 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyltetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazole-2(3H)-4-dione,with a melting point of 119° C.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+91.1°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 23

39.85 g (0.1 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazoline-4-carboxylicacid are dissolved in 100 ml of N-methylpyrrolidone, 11.22 g (0.2 mol)of potassium tert.-butylate are introduced and the reaction mixture isheated for 2 hours at 130° C.

The mixture is then cooled to room temperature and stirred into 800 mlof water, and the batch is extracted four times with 100 ml of tolueneat a time. The combined organic phases are washed three times with 50 mlof water at a time and are concentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is recrystallized from 2-propanol, giving 28.3 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyltetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazole-2(3H), 4-dione,with a melting point of 118°-119° C.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+90.8°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 24

Following the procedure described in Example 23, 39.85 g (0.1 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazolin-4-carboxylicacid are reacted with 5.40 g (0.1 mol) of sodium methylate in 100 ml ofN-methylpyrrolidone.

28.0 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyltetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H),4-dione,with a melting point of 119°-120° C., are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+91.3°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 25

Following the procedure described in Example 23, 39.85 g (0.1 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazoline-4-carboxylicacid are reacted with 4.0 g (0.1 mol) of sodium hydroxide in 100 ml ofN-methylpyrrolidone.

22.9 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-2(3H),4-dione,with a melting point of 119° C., are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+90.8°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 26

1.43 g of (7.5 mmol) of toluene-4-sulphonic acid monohydrate and 37.14 g(0.18 mol) of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide are added to a solution of53.47 g (0.15 mol) of(4R,5S)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-mercaptomethylimidazoline-4-carboxylic acidin 300 ml of pyridine at room temperature and the mixture is stirred for6 hours at 20° C.

It is then filtered and the filtrate is concentrated under reducedpressure.

The residue is dissolved in 400 ml of toluene, the solution is washedtwice with 50 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid at a time and is concentrated,and the residue is recrystallized from 2-propanol.

40.6 g of (3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyltetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-2(3H),4-dione, with a melting point of 119°-120° C., are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+91.3°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 27

1.70 g (18 mol) of methyl chloroformate are added to a solution of 5.35g (15 mmol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-5-mercaptomethyl-imidazoline-4-carboxylicacid in a mixture of 50 ml of methylene chloride and 1.42 g (18 mmol) ofpyridine at 5° C. and the mixture is boiled for 36 hours under reflux.

It is then cooled to room temperature, washed twice with 25 ml of 1Nhydrochloric acid at a time, dried over sodium sulphate and concentratedunder reduced pressure.

The residue is chromatographed on silica gel, using toluene/ethylacetate (9:1, v/v).

3.1 g of (3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyltetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazole-2(3H),4-dione, with amelting point of 119° C., are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+90.9°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 28

7.32 g (112 mmol) of zinc powder are added in portions to a solution of9.92 g (28 mmol) of(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5c]-thiazole-7-carboxylic acid in 150 ml of anyhydrousacetic acid at 80° C., the mixture is stirred at 80° C. for a further 4hours and filtered and the filtrate is concentrated under reducedpressure.

The residue is dissolved in 300 ml of toluene and the solution is washedwith 150 ml of water and 75 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution andconcentrated under reduced pressure. The crude thiolactone isrecrystallized from ethyl acetate.

8.0 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazole-2(3H),4-dionewith a melting point of 119°-120° C. are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+91.2°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 29

73.22 g (1.12 mol) of zinc powder are added in portions to a solution of99.24 g (0.28 mol) of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylicacid in 1500 ml of anhydrous acetic acid at 80° C., the mixture isstirred at 80° C. for a further 4 hours and filtered and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is dissolved in 1000 ml of dimethylformamide, 38.1 g (0.28mol) of sodium acetate trihydrate are added to the solution and themixture is stirred at 125° C. for 60 minutes.

It is then cooled to room temperature, stirred into 1500 ml of water andextracted four times with 200 ml of toluene each time and the combinedextracts are washed three times with 150 ml of water each time and oncewith saturated sodium chloride solution and concentrated under reducedpressure.

The residue is recrystallized from ethyl acetate to give 75.8 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydro-thieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-2(3H),4-dionewith a melting point of 118°-119° C.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+90.6°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 30

10.06 g (30 mmol) of(7s,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare suspended in 150 ml of saturated methanolic hydrochloric acid andthe mixture is stirred at 60° C. for 5 hours.

It is then cooled, 500 ml of ice-water are added and the mixture isextracted four times with 150 ml of ethyl acetate each time.

The combined organic phases are washed with a total of 300 ml of water,dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Theproduct crystallizes on trituration with diethyl ether.

10.2 g of methyl(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylatewith a melting point of 155°-156° C. are obtained.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-752°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 31

10.1 g of methyl(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H-3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylateare obtained as a colourless oil from 10.06 g (30 mmol) of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneby the procedure described in Example 15;

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-862°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 32

7.85 g (120 mmol) of zinc powder are added in portions to a solution of11.05 g (30 mmol) of methyl(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carboxylatein 150 ml of anhydrous acetic acid at 80° C., the mixture is stirred at80° C. for a further 4 hours and filtered and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is dissolved in 300 ml of toluene and the solution is washedwith 150 ml of water and 75 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution andconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The crude thiolactone is recrystallized from ethyl acetate. 8.4 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydro-thieno[3,4-d]imidazole-2(3H),4-dionewith a melting point of 120° C. are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+91.1°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 33

7.85 g (120 mmol) of zinc powder are added in portions to a solution of11.05 g (30 mmol) of methyl(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazol[1,5-c]thiaozole-7-carboxylatein 150 ml of anhydrous acetic acid at 80° C., the mixture is stirred at80° C. for a further 4 hours and filtered and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is dissolved in 110 ml of dimethylformamide, 4.08 g (30mmol) of sodium acetate trihydrate are added to the solution and themixtiure is stirred at 110° C. for 60 minutes.

The mixture is then cooled to room temperature, stirred into 200 ml ofwater and extracted four times with 100 ml of toluene each time and thecombined extracts are washed three times with 50 ml of water each timeand once with 50 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution andconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is recrystallized from ethyl acetate to give 7.5 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazole-2(3H),4-dionewith a melting point of 119° C.

[α]_(D) ²⁰ =+90.6°, c=1 (CHCl₃).

EXAMPLE 34

A Grignard reagent solution prepared from 3.68 g (30 mmol) of1-chloro-4-methoxybutane and 0.97 g (40 mmol) of magnesium in 15 ml oftetrahydrofuran is added dropwise to a solution of 6.71 g (20 mmol) of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran at 40° C. under nitrogen.

The mixture is stirred at 40° C. for 30 minutes, 50 ml of ice-water areadded and the pH is brought to 4 with 1N hydrochloric acid. The mixtureis then extracted three times with 50 ml of ether each time and theextract is drived over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reducedpressue. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel with diethylether.

6.6 g of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as a yellow oil.

[α]₄₃₆ ²⁰ =-480°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 35

3.86 g (30 mmol) of 1-chloro-4-methoxybutane, 0.97 g (40 mmol) ofmagnesium and 6.71 g (20 mmol) of(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare reacted with one another in 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran by theprocedure described in Example 19.

6.3 g of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as a yellow oil.

[α]₄₃₆ ²⁰ =-475°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 36

7.06 g (108 mmol) of zinc powder are added in portions to a solution of11.46 g (27 mmol) of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 200 ml of anhydrous acetic acid at 80° C., the mixture is stirred at80° C. for a further 5 hours and filtered, and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is taken up in 150 ml of toluene and the mixture is washedthree times with 100 ml of water each time and concentrated again underreduced pressure.(4R,5R)-1,3-Dibenzyl-2-oxo-4-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-5-mercaptomethylimidazolidineis obtained as the residue;

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-52.6°, c=1 (methanol).

The pale yellow oil is dissolved in 3.66 g (61 mmol) of anhydrous aceticacid at room temperature, 5.19 g (61 mmol) of piperidine are addeddropwise, while cooling with ice, and the melt is heated at 100° C. for90 minutes, with stirring.

The mixture is then cooled to 20° C., 150 ml of water are added and themixture is extracted three times with 100 ml of tert.-butyl methyl ethereach time. The combined organic phases are washed with 1N hydrochloricacid and water, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reducedpressure.

A solution of the oily residue in 50 ml of acetic acid is then heated at100° C. for 2 hours, cooled and concentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is taken up in 100 ml of tert.-butyl methyl ether, themixture is washed once with 50 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide solution andthen twice with 50 ml of water each time, dried over sodium sulfate andconcentrated and the crude product is chromatographed on silica gel(diethyl ether).

8.1 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-4-(4-methoxybutylidene)tetrahydro-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]_(D) ²⁵ =+236°, c=1 (benzene).

EXAMPLE 37

57.5 ml (92 mmol) of a 1.6 molar solution of n-butyllithium in n-hexaneare added dropwise to a suspension, stirred under nitrogen, of 19.95 g(45 mmol) of (4-carboxybutyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide in 120 ml oftetrahydrofuran at 20° C.

The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 40 minutes and cooled to0° C., 7.36 g (55 mmol) of lithium iodide are introduced and a solutionof 13.42 g (40 mmol) of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 75 ml of THF is added dropwise in the course of 20 minutes.

The mixture is subsequently stirred at room temperature for one hour andthen at 50° C. for 2 hours and is cooled to 0° C., and a mixture of 30ml of ice-water and 25 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added.

The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and most ofthe solvent is distilled off under reduced pressure. The residue istaken up in 150 ml of ethyl acetate.

After separation of the phases, the organic solution is washed twicewith 50 ml of water each time, dried over sodium sulfate andconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is dissolved in 150 ml of anhydrous acetic acid, and 7.85 g(120 mmol) of zinc powder are added in portions at 80° C. The mixture isstirred at 90° C. for 4 hours and filtered and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The oily residue is taken up in 100 ml of toluene and the mixture iswashed three times with 50 ml of water each time and concentrated againunder reduced pressure.(4R,5R)-1,3-Dibenzyl-2-oxo-4-(5-carboxypentanoyl)-5-mercapto-methyl-imidazolidineis obtained as the residue.

To dissolve the residue in 7.21 g (120 mmol) of acetic acid, 11.92 g(140 mmol) of piperidine are added dropwise at 0° C. and the mixture isheated at 100° C. for 2 hours.

It is then cooled to 25° C., 150 ml of water are added, the pH isbrought to 3 with 2N hydrochloric acid and the mixture is extractedthree times with 100 ml of ethyl acetate each time. The combined organicsolutions are washed with 1N hydrochloric acid and water, dried oversodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure.(3aS,4RS,6aR)-1,3-Dibenzyl-4-hydroxy-4-(4-carboxybutyl)tetrahydro-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneis obtained as the residue.

A solution of the oily residue in 75 ml of acetic acid is then heated at100° C. for 1 hour, cooled to room temperature and concentrated underreduced pressure.

The residue is taken up in 150 ml of ethyl acetate, the mixture iswashed twice with 50 ml of water each time, dried over sodium sulfateand concentrated and the crude product is chromatographed on silica gel(toluene/ethyl acetate 3:1, volume/volume).

10.1 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenyl-4-(4-carboxybutylidene)tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-onewith a melting point of 79°-82° C. are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²² =+215°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 38

A solution of 12.40 g (66 mmol) of 1,2-dibromoethane in 18 ml of diethylether is added dropwise over 15 minutes, at 23° to 27° C., to asuspension, stirred under nitrogen, of 5.49 g (226 mmol) of magnesiumshavings in a mixture of 35 ml of diethyl ether and 35 ml of toluene,the mixture is stirred for 45 minutes at room temperature and a solutionof 8.38 g (66 mmol) of 1,4-dichlorobutane in a mixture of 18 ml ofdiethyl ether and 38 ml of toluene is then added dropwise over 25minutes, without cooling.

Stirring is continued for 90 minutes, the mixture is cooled to -30° C.,and at this temperature a solution of 7.38 g (22 mmol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]-thiazol-5(6H)-onein 150 ml of toluene is added dropwise over 30 minutes.

Carbon dioxide is then passed in over 60 minutes, during which thetemperature is allowed to rise to 0° C. The mixture is then concentratedunder reduced pressure and the residue is partitioned between 150 ml of1N hydrochloric acid and 200 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic phase isseparated off, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated under reducedpressure.

6.05 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-(5-carboxypentanoyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]-5-(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil which is laevo-rotatory in methanol.

The residue is dissolved in 100 ml of anhydrous acetic acid and 5.88 g(90 mmol) of zinc powder are added, a little at a time, at 80° C. Themixture is stirred for 4 hours at 90° C., filtered and concentratedunder reduced pressure.

The residue is dissolved in 5.40 g (90 mmol) of acetic acid, 8.52 g (100mmol) of piperidine are added dropwise at 0° C. and the mixture isheated for 2 hous at 100° C.

It is then cooled to 25° C., 100 ml of water are added, the pH isbrought to 3 with 2N hydrochloric acid and the mixture is extractedthree times with 50 ml of ethyl acetate at a time.

The combined organic solutions are washed with 1N hydrochloric acid andwater, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated under reducedpressure.

(3aS,4RS,6aR)-1,3-Dibenzyl-4-hydroxy-4-(4-carboxybutyl)tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneis obtained as the residue, in the form of an oil which islaevo-rotatory in methanol.

The solution of the residue in 50 ml of acetic acid is then heated for 1hour at 100° C. and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue istaken up in 100 ml of ethyl acetate, the solution is washed twice with50 ml of water at a time, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated,and the crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (toluene/ethylacetate 3:1, v/v).

4.2 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-4-(4-carboxybutylidene)tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-one,with a melting point of 80°-82° C., are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²² =+214°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 39

A solution of 19.43 g (90 mmol) of 1,4-dibromobutane in 240 ml ofdiethyl ether is added dropwise, over 30 minutes, to a suspension,stirred under nitrogen, of 7.53 g (310 mmol) of magnesium shavings in 50ml of diethyl ether, the mixture is boiled for 60 minutes under refluxand a solution of 10.06 g (30 mmol) of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 300 ml of diethyl ether is then added dropwise at 30° C. over 10minutes.

The reaction mixture is then cooled to -30° C. and carbon dioxide ispassed in over 60 minutes, with the temperature being allowed to rise to0° C.

The solvent is distilled off and the residue is partitioned between 200ml of 1N hydrochloric acid and 200 ml of ethyl acetate. The organicphase is separated off, dried over sodium sulphate and concentratedunder reduced pressure. 7.2 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-(5-carboxypentanoyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil which is laevo-rotatory in methanol.

The residue is dissolved in 150 ml of anhydrous acetic acid and 6.54 g(100 mmol) of zinc powder are added, a little at a time, at 80° C. Themixture is stirred for 4 hours at 90° C. and is filtered, and 140 ml ofacetic acid are distilled off.

After addition of 17.03 g (200 mmol) of piperidine at 0° C., thereaction mixture is heated for 2 hours at 100° C., 150 ml of acetic acidare then added, stirring is continued for 60 minutes at 100° C. and themixture is concentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is taken up in 150 ml of ethyl acetate and the solution iswashed with 1N hydrochloric acid and water, dried over sodium sulphateand concentrated under reduced pressure.

(3aS,6aR)-1,3-Dibenzyl-4-(4-carboxybutylidene)-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneis obtained as the residue.

The crude product is dissolved in 40 ml of methanol, 30 ml of asaturated solution of hydrogen chloride in methanol are added and theresulting solution is stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. Themixture is then concentrated under reduced pressure and the oily residueis taken up in 100 ml of toluene.

The solution is washed twice with 50 ml of water at a time, the solventis distilled off and the crude product is chromatographed on silica gel(toluene/ethyl acetate 9:1, v/v).

6.4 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-Dibenzyl-4-(4-methoxycarbonylbutylidene)-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]_(D) ²⁵ =+227°, c=1 (benzene).

EXAMPLE 40

Using the procedure described in Example 39, 19.43 g (90 mmol) of1,4-dibromobutane, 7.53 g (310 mmol) of magnesium and 10.06 g (30 mmol)of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare reacted in 290 ml of diethyl ether.

6.8 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-4-(4-methoxycarbonylbutylidene)-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneis obtained as an oil.

[α]_(D) ²⁵ =+225°, c=1 (benzene).

EXAMPLE 41

Using the procedure described in Example 39, 19.43 g (90 mmol) of1,4-dibromobutane, 7.53 g (310 mmol) of magnesium and 10.06 g (30 mmol)of(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare reacted in 290 ml of diethyl ether.

5.2 g of(3aS,6aR)-1,3-Dibenzyl-4-(4-methoxycarbonylbutylidene)-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]_(D) ²⁵ =+223°, c=1 (benzene).

EXAMPLE 42

200 ml of a 1M solution of diisobutylaluminium hydride in toluene areadded dropwise to a solution of 33.54 g (0.1 mol) of a mixture of(7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-cyano-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 250 ml of toluene at -70° C. under nitrogen, the mixture is warmed to0° C. in the course of 3 hours and this temperature is maintained for afurther 2 hours. 5 ml of methanol are then added and the mixture isstirred into 250 ml of saturated ammonium chloride solution. The phasesare separated and the organic phase is then extracted by shaking with100 ml of 10% sulfuric acid for 20 minutes.

The phases are separated and the organic phase is washed twice with 100ml of water each time, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated underreduced pressure.

29.4 g of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-5(6H)-oxo-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carbaldehydeare obtained.

EXAMPLE 43

57.5 ml (92 mmol) of a 1.6M solution of n-butyllithium in n-hexane areadded dropwise to a suspension, stirred under nitrogen, of 19.95 g (45mmol) of (4-carboxybutyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide in 150 ml oftetrahydrofuran at 20° C.

The reaction mixture is stirred at 20° C. for 60 minutes and cooled to0° C., a solution of 13.54 g (40 mmol) of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-2-oxo-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H,6H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-7-carbaldehydein 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise in the course of 15minutes. After a further 60 minutes, the reaction mixture is stirredinto 200 ml of ice-water and brought to pH 2 with concentratedhydrochloric acid. The phases are separated and the aqueous phase isextracted with twice 50 ml of ethyl acetate. The combined organic phasesare washed with water and saturated sodium chloride solution, dried oversodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crudeproduct is then chromatographed with ethyl acetate on silica gel.

13.9 g of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-(5-carboxy-pent-1-enyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

EXAMPLE 44

7.85 g (120 mmol) of zinc powder are added in portions to a solution of12.68 g (30 mmol) of a mixture of (7R,7aR)- and(7S,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-(5-carboxy-pent-1-enyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 150 ml of anhydrous acetic acid at 85° C., the mixture is stirred at85° C. for a further 4 hours and filtered and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure. The residue is chromatographed onsilica gel (methylene chloride/methanol 9:1, volume/volume).

4.8 g of(3aS,4S,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-4-(4-carboxybutyl)tetrahydro-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-onewith a melting point of 88°-89° C. are obtained.

[α]_(D) ²² =-24.3°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 45

8.77 g (20 mmol) of a mixture, obtained using the procedure described inExamples 38-41, of (7S,7aR)- and(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-(5-carboxypentanoyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-oneare dissolved in 60 ml of methanol and 40 ml of a saturated solution ofhydrogen chloride in methanol are added.

The mixture is stirred for 2 hours at room temperature and concentratedunder reduced pressure. The residue is dissolved in 100 ml of toluene,the solution is washed twice with 50 ml of water at a time, the solventis distilled off and the crude product is chromatographed on silica gel(ethyl acetate).

3.3 g of(3aS,6aR)-3-benzyl-4-(4-methoxycarbonylbutylidene)-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]_(D) ²⁵ =+215°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 46

33.69 g (0.33 mol) of acetic anhydride and 366.5 mg (3 mmol) of4-(dimethylamino)-pyridine are added to a solution of 97.92 g (0.3 mol)of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 900 ml of toluene, and the solution is stirred for 2 hours at 40° C.After cooling to room temperature the solution is washed with 180 ml ofwater, with 180 ml of a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and thesolvent is distilled off. 109.8 g of(7RS,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7,7a-dihydro-7-acetoxy-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5-(6H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-795°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 47

A solution of 212.28 g (0.5 mol) of(7R,7aR)-3-phenyl-6-benzyl-7-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-7,7a-dihydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-5(6H)-onein 500 ml of anhydrous acetic acid are added for 60 minutes at roomtemperature to a suspension of 326.95 g (5 mol) of zinc powder, 510.45 g(5 mol) of acetic anhydride and 1,400 ml of anhydrous acetic acid heldunder nitrogen atmosphere. After further stirring at 110° C. for 8 hoursand cooling to 40° C. the mixture is filtered, and the filtrate isconcentrated under reduced pressure.

The residue is taken up in 1,500 ml of toluene, and the mixture iswashed three times with 300 ml of water each time and concentrated againunder reduced pressure. 227.3 g of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-4-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazolidineare obtained as an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =+101.2°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 48

55 ml of 10N sodium hydroxide solution are added to a solution of 234.31g (0.5 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-4-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-5-acetylmercaptomethyl-imidazoline(prepartion described in Example 47) in 250 ml of methanol at 30° C.,the mixture is stirred for a further hour and mixed with 1,000 ml ofwater. The mixture is acidified (pH 4) with concentrated hydrochloricacid and extracted three times with 500 ml of toluene each time. Thecombined organic phases are washed three times with 250 ml of water eachtime and concentrated under reduced pressure.

209 g of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-4-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-5-mercaptomethyl-imidazolineare obtained as an oil.

[α]₃₆₅ ²⁰ =-49.8°, c=1 (methanol).

EXAMPLE 49

63.86 g (0.75 mol) of piperidine are added to a solution of 213.29 g(0.5 mol) of(4R,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxo-4-(5-methoxypentanoyl)-5-mercaptomethyl-imidazolinein 45.04 g (0.75 mol) of anhydrous acetic acid at 70° C.

The mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 6 hours, mixed with 500 ml ofwater, cooled to room temperature and extracted three times with 500 mlof toluene each time.

The combined organic layers containing(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-4-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxybutyl)-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazo-2(3H)-oneas intermediate are washed with 200 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid and 200ml of water mixed with 6 g (0.1 mol) of anhydrous acetic acid and boiledunder reflux for 4 hours. After cooling to room temperature the mixtureis washed twice with 200 ml of water and twice with 200 ml of 2N sodiumhydroxide solution each time and concentrated under reduced pressure.The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel (toluene/ethylacetate 7:3, volume/volume).

189.8 g(3aS,6aR)-1,3-dibenzyl-4-(4-methoxybutylidene)-tetrahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H)-oneare obtained as an oil.

[α]_(D) ²⁵ =+238.6°, c=1 (benzene).

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the preparation of D-(+)-biotin,comprising:(a)(i) Reducing a starting material compound of the formula##STR24## wherein R¹ and R² are each in independently H, alkyl,substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or heteroaryl, wherein theheteroatom is O, N, or S, or taken together are alkylene, substitutedalkylene or heteroalkylene, wherein the heteroatom is O, N, or S;R³ is Hor benzyl, benzyl substituted by one or more of C₁₋₄ -alkyl, C₁₋₄-alkoxyl, C₃₋₅ -alkyl-2-enyl or C₃₋₆ -trialkylsilyl; X and Yindependently are each O or S; to an alcohol of the formula ##STR25## byreacting said starting material compound with a reducing agent or bycatalytically hydrogenating said starting material compound: (ii)converting said alcohol into an activated ester of the formula ##STR26##wherein R⁴ is an activating ester group and is alkanoyl, aroyl,alkylsulfonyl or azole-M, wherein azole is a fused or non-fused,substituted or unsubstituted, nitrogen-containing 5-membered ring, and Mis CO, CS, SO₂, SO or S; (iii) reacting said activated ester with analkali metal cyanide, an alkaline earth metal cyanide or a cyanosilane,to give a nitrile of the formula ##STR27## (b) (i) reacting the productof step (a) (iii) with an organometallic compound to given an oxocompound of the formula ##STR28## wherein Z is OR⁵ or COOR⁵, wherein R⁵is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl; (ii) splitting said oxo compound bytreatment with an acid, a reducing agent or a mixture thereof to give animidazolidine of the formula ##STR29## (iii) cyclizing saidimidazolidine by reacting with a base to give a biotin derivative of theformula ##STR30## wherein R⁶ is H or R¹ R² CH; and (iv) converting saidderivative into D-(+)-biotin by known processes, or (c) (i) the oxocompound produced in step (b) (i) above is converted with an acid, to abiotin derivative of the formula ##STR31## and (ii) this derivative isconverted into D-(+)-biotin by known processes.
 2. A process accordingto claim 1, wherein in said catalytic hydrogenation, the catalyst is anoble metal or noble metal oxide.
 3. A process according to claim 2,wherein the hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature of about0°-200° C. and a pressure of 1-200 bar.
 4. A process according to claim1, wherein in step (a) (ii) the activated ester is produced by reactingsaid alcohol with a compound R⁴ -Q, wherein Q is halogen, alkoxy,alkanoyloxy or azole as defined for R⁴.
 5. A process according to claim4, wherein the reaction with said compound R⁴ -Q is performed in thepresence of a base consisting essentially of triethylamine, pyridine,butidine, collidine, quinoline or a mixture thereof, and is performed ata temperature of about -50° to +150° C.
 6. A process according to claim1, wherein in step (a) (iii) the ester is reacted with sodium cyanide,potassium cyanide, copper cyanide, trimethylsilyl cyanide,β-triethylsilylpropionitrile or diethylaluminum cyanide, and wherein thereaction with said ester is performed in an inert solvent consistingessentially of methylene chloride, toluene, pyridine, dimethylformamide,dimethylsulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone or hexamethylphosphoric acid, andis performed at a temperature of about -50° to +200° C.
 7. A processaccording to claim 6, wherein R⁴ is azole-M and the ester is N-alkylatedprior to reaction in step (a) (iii).
 8. A process according to claim 6,wherein R⁴ is alkanoyl or aroyl and the ester is reacted withtrimethylsilyl cyanide.
 9. A process according to claim 1, wherein instep (b) (i) the organometallic compound is magnesium, zinc, lithium oraluminum.
 10. A process according to claim 1, wherein step (b) (iii) thebase is sodium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide,sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodiumacetate, potassium acetate, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, aluminumoxide, triethylamine, pyridine, lutidine, piperidine, morpholine,piperazine, collidine or quinoline.